Cubdriver

Makes you wonder how they ever staffed it with an alleged 50% washout rate on the ATR and pay under $30k to start. I am told MAC is significantly raising their ATR pay in June which has to be a significant factor for them.

chazbird

When I went through training as a street captain and no ATR time FSI's ATR program was pretty screwed up. All were contract, no Empire training people there. I had 1 systems instructor (great) another CRM person (terrible) and several sim instructors (OK to horrible). Before a sim session that instructor (who instructed other ATR carriers) gave a us a brief with a little oral quiz. What I/we answered was "wrong". When we showed them our correct answers/sources we were told "We didn't really want to learn". That's when I stood up and told that person I am firing them. Program manager came in and I told him the same thing. I thought I was toast but I wasn't going to be treated that way .Empire DO and chief pilot totally backed me up and I took the type ride later in the airplane. Mostly I had good experiences there, genuinely liked the people, and the schedules (after my base closed I did a floater for awhile and did nearly every run, including the AK stuff). Its just that out of the blue they get strangely capricious. People warned me about that, not if, but when, and eventually it happened.

dbcooper1313

Unless you enjoy ridiculously low pay, a toxic work environment, inept management , and zero respect, stay away. There is very little upside. I flew for them for 5+ years and looking back, I see myself sitting all day in a budget fleabag motel, walking to Walmart (no car provided at this particular base) for something frozen the heat in the motel microwave, and everyday feeling like I was waisting my career away.

CaptainCarl

As with every airline, YMMV. Empire, in my experience, has been decent pay (left seat, I wouldn't ever work here on FO pay), great work environment, management seems to be doing their jobs (I don't really know, I'm not in the office), and no one has disrespected me. The upside for anyone looking to come here is QOL. I came here for exactly that and that's exactly what I've got. My stress level is pretty close to zero. I'm currently sitting in a suite (microwave, fridge, couch, lazy boy, etc) in a mid-range hotel, as we do every night of the week. I can walk to the gas station or take the crew car (not that I need to since I eat/plan accordingly before coming to work). This ain't the place to build time or stack paper, but it works if you have a family and actually want to be part of their lives. Choose your base wisely, come jumpseat on the route before you interview/apply to see if it's what you really want.

I'm happy to be here, and this ain't my first rodeo. That said, career progression is going to force me back into the rat race sooner or later. Gotta keep hustling.

PM for more specifics, I'm here to help.

Awesomepilot

^^ what a bunch of BS. You can have very good QOL at any airline once you get seniority with much better pay, treatment, operation, career security and progression. Empire has and will always be a crap operator. Now with everyone else also hiring, all they are getting are the leftovers no one will touch with a 10foot pole. Working for them would automatically get you associated with that group and then good luck with the future. #bottomfeeder #scumpire

aviatorhi

#****bag #moron

CaptainCarl

Right, I agree you can have good QOL at any airline... once you get seniority. The difference here is that I got good QOL right out of the gate. Better pay comes with longevity, no doubt about it, that's why I called it "decent pay." It's livable pay in the left seat. Treatment here is fine, IMO. Operation is smooth, besides the occasional delay due to the Sort in Memphis. Career security doesn't exist at any regional airline. Progression is all about the individual, you'll progress if you want to. I'm not sure who Empire is hiring, but I doubt it's "leftovers" that can't be touched with a "10ft pole," unless you're calling me a "leftover." Automatically associated with "that group?" What "group?" This ain't GoJet, there's no stigma that I'm aware of, and I checked before I got here. There's only one thing left to say:

chazbird

The QOL at Empire on the 121 side is just "different" - not too comparable. Back when they had it I did OAK YVR OAK for 5 nights a week, then I had 9 off, because I would time out if I did it every week night. Nice, huh? But it was a 1 AM show and got back at 10 AM. Other runs, if you are out west, are pretty easy; like Missoula - Great Falls or SBA - ONT. Show at 430, done by 7pm - hotel time. Next day show at 6 AM and done by 8 AM. All day off - pretty great in SBA. But, it's MO - SA, you are not really around most of the week at night for your family. Alaska, however is pretty much day runs, bankers hours, mostly a 9 - 5 sort of thing (or even shorter). At least that's how I remember it. Still, the caveats: pay and wondering if the capricious roulette wheel will have your number turn up.

skid

Anyone have any insight on the HNL operation? How many legs a day how many crews and anything else you want to add? I am interested in Street Capt side of the operation. How they treat that being low man on the bidding and everything.
The real tough part for me is the training contract side of things. All carriers are getting rid of that because they cant get qualified applicants. Heck several regionals are offering 20k in bonuses just to get people in the door for a year. Yet they are pushing 13K bill at you.

CaptainCarl

Don't know a whole lot about the Ohana side. Seems like things run pretty smoothly out there.

I'd venture a guess that if you wanted to get hired sans training contract, you could. Just straight up tell them, "I'll be happy to accept a position with Empire Airlines so long as there's no training contract." The worst they can say is, "Thanks but no thanks." The way the industry is now, they'll probably have to consider it. Of course, that's just my humble opinion.